Chapter 11
Guy wasn't ready to let go of his hurt and anger. He knew she had gone to the camp so he was unconcerned for her safety. She needed to come to him. He was not going to go crawling back begging for her forgiveness. By nightfall he knew she'd be back. He threw the offensive garments into the fire and took pleasure in watching them burn.
Brooklynne however, did not go to the camp. Instead she took a very different direction. She guided Darius through the woods in the direction of York. Nunnington Hall was her uncle's seat before he was killed in a riding accident almost 10 years prior. Her Aunt Lillian lived there now and ran the Manor house by herself. They had been childless and Aunt Lily refused to remarry. This made Aunt Lily her own living relative. Brooklynne felt the need to get away for a while. She had been in the oppressiveness of Nottingham for more years than she cared to think about. It was time she paid her Aunt a visit.
As she rode her mind kept wandering to Guy back at the cave. Each time this happened she shook herself. She refused to dwell on him. Instead she tried to bring to mind the road that she had not traveled for many years to Nunnington Hall. It was a long road and she had to be careful to avoid soldiers or anyone who might have knowledge of her outlawedness. The farther she rode from Nottingham the safer she felt and breathing came easier. As night fell she brought Darius a short way into the forest until she found small hollow to bed down in. She was hungry but decided against a fire. She would find food in the morning. By this point she was used to the forest sounds and sleep came easily to her.
Guy on the other hand was not sleeping. Where is that stubborn woman? Surely she sees that she is in the wrong. Well I am not going after her. We'll see who crawls first. It will not be me. He spent the rest of the night tossing on their bedding of fur pelts. I'm sure she will be here first thing in the morning to try to persuade me to take her back.
Brooklynne woke as the sun began to rise over the horizon. The air had a chill in it as the summer days were giving way to autumn. She pulled her cloak closer as she untied Darius from the tree and mounted. At the first town she came to, Brooklynne bought a fresh loaf of bread from the market and some apples for Darius. It felt good quench the ache in her belly and the day was looking brighter. She made good time on the road and no one questioned her. As darkness began to fall on her second day she decided to risk finding an inn for the night instead of the forest. Her body was weary from the long day of travels. The Happy Traveler Inn was the first one she came to and she was too tired to care how run down it appeared.